Criminal Justice Press Release

11.15.17

Ohio Must Enact Moratorium on Executions

LUCASVILLE—After nearly 30 minutes of torture as medical personnel attempted to find a useable vein for the lethal injection of Alva Campbell, Jr the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections called off his execution. This comes after weeks of advocacy from Campbell’s counsel explaining that he was too ill and death by lethal injection would be tortuous. The following statement can be attributed to ACLU of Ohio Senior Policy Director Mike Brickner:

“This marks the fifth botched execution for Ohio in recent years, and the second time the state could not complete an execution. This is not justice, and this is not humane. Campbell was poked and prodded for far too long as prison officials and medical personnel attempted to find a useable vein. This type of state-sponsored torture is not acceptable and the state of Ohio must place a moratorium on executions immediately. Today the state made a spectacle of a man’s life, and the cruel and unusual practice of lethal injection must end.”